Moving a 9 foot GC3
- Thread starter rykr01
- Start date
Everything breaks down, even the frame, so you should be able to transport it in you trailer. It's a good idea to stack the slates between 2x4's or moving blankets at the very least. Be careful going over bumps in the road and it should be fine. Each piece of slate weighs about 275 lbs.
The side aprons are by far the longest component to carry, about 9.5' in length.
I wouldn't put the slates in a low trailer, why?
Because they are much more difficult to pick back UP.
I'd put the slates in the pickup bed.
I wouldn't put the slates in a low trailer, why?
Because they are much more difficult to pick back UP.
I'd put the slates in the pickup bed.
226# for a 9' GCI, I was curious and weighed mine on my race car scales when moving them into my basement. They are heavy but even worse they are just plain awkward, I made a crate with handles to carry each piece, made it much, much easier. I will still never be moving my GCI again, if for some strange reason I had to I would hire someone stronger and younger.
Stop improvising with small trailers or you will break your back for nothing. When I moved a heavy table a year ago, I struggled with a pickup and almost broke all the slate on the potholes.
So I called Marcus Allard Truck Rental and got a properly equipped van with ramps and safety space. You save a lot of nerves and unnecessary risks for a 5-hour drive.
So I called Marcus Allard Truck Rental and got a properly equipped van with ramps and safety space. You save a lot of nerves and unnecessary risks for a 5-hour drive.
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Fyi... to breakdown a gold crown 4 you will need the following items.
9/16 socket, 1/2 socket 3/4 socket, 8-12 inch extension for ratchet drive, # 3 Phillips bit, #2 Phillips bit.
tack or staple puller, pliers, 3/Th's wrench 1/2 wrench. 9/32 Allen wrench.
Start by removing Allen screws in the pockets, remove pocket (or gully liners if ball return) Next remove 9/16 rail bolts and studs from rails, these are found under the rails looking up from the bottom. Next remove ball track if ball return and ball ball receiver box. The hardware for the ball receiver box is a number 2 Phillips with a 3/8 nut run up through the two angle brackets and attached under the ball storage area. (ball return only) Next, with a helper lift the rail and apron Assembly off the table and flip upside down. Next remove the #2 Phillips screws from the metal brackets in the corners of the aprons, Next remove the the 1/2 head bolts from the aprons and stack finished side to finished side, two short pieces 2 long pieces. Next carefully remove the 1/2 inch head bolts that go through the castings into the round receiver bolts in the rails, 2 per side on the corner castings 1 per side on the side pocket castings. Start with the castings on the head rail where they connect to the side rails first. IE you will be removing just the short end rail first. Next remove the foot rail casting bolts. Slide the two long rails to wards the center of the table and remove the single casting bolt on both sides of the long rail. and repeat on the other long rail. You should now have 6 separate rails, transport the bottom face to bottom faced avoid scratches to the Formica rail cap.
Now remove ALL the staples from the bed cloth with your staple remover and pliers. make sure you check under and around the pocket openings. With the cloth removed you'll see the bare slate, remove the 12 slate screws with the # 3 Phillips bit. Remove the slate and place flat in your truck wood side down slate side up. You can stack the three slates on top of each other.
Now remove the 3/4 inch bolts from the angle iron between the frame and the pedestal. Now set the frame on the floor and remove the 3/4 inch bolts from the left hand side of the frame. Now do the right hand side (4 bolts). With the bolts removed you can tap on the sides of the frame and separate the short pieces from the long. Stack and load into you truck.
Now remove the 3/4 inch bolts from the leg sections through the center connector (2 on each side) load the legs and center stretcher into your truck. cover the loaded items with packing blankets and load the rails, aprons and hardware box ball track etc...
When unloading into your room, keep the frame components together, keep the legs and center stretcher together, keep the rails and aprons together and lean the slates vertical against any solid wall one against the other in a single stack is fine.
Jay Spielberg
Quality done right the first time!
9/16 socket, 1/2 socket 3/4 socket, 8-12 inch extension for ratchet drive, # 3 Phillips bit, #2 Phillips bit.
tack or staple puller, pliers, 3/Th's wrench 1/2 wrench. 9/32 Allen wrench.
Start by removing Allen screws in the pockets, remove pocket (or gully liners if ball return) Next remove 9/16 rail bolts and studs from rails, these are found under the rails looking up from the bottom. Next remove ball track if ball return and ball ball receiver box. The hardware for the ball receiver box is a number 2 Phillips with a 3/8 nut run up through the two angle brackets and attached under the ball storage area. (ball return only) Next, with a helper lift the rail and apron Assembly off the table and flip upside down. Next remove the #2 Phillips screws from the metal brackets in the corners of the aprons, Next remove the the 1/2 head bolts from the aprons and stack finished side to finished side, two short pieces 2 long pieces. Next carefully remove the 1/2 inch head bolts that go through the castings into the round receiver bolts in the rails, 2 per side on the corner castings 1 per side on the side pocket castings. Start with the castings on the head rail where they connect to the side rails first. IE you will be removing just the short end rail first. Next remove the foot rail casting bolts. Slide the two long rails to wards the center of the table and remove the single casting bolt on both sides of the long rail. and repeat on the other long rail. You should now have 6 separate rails, transport the bottom face to bottom faced avoid scratches to the Formica rail cap.
Now remove ALL the staples from the bed cloth with your staple remover and pliers. make sure you check under and around the pocket openings. With the cloth removed you'll see the bare slate, remove the 12 slate screws with the # 3 Phillips bit. Remove the slate and place flat in your truck wood side down slate side up. You can stack the three slates on top of each other.
Now remove the 3/4 inch bolts from the angle iron between the frame and the pedestal. Now set the frame on the floor and remove the 3/4 inch bolts from the left hand side of the frame. Now do the right hand side (4 bolts). With the bolts removed you can tap on the sides of the frame and separate the short pieces from the long. Stack and load into you truck.
Now remove the 3/4 inch bolts from the leg sections through the center connector (2 on each side) load the legs and center stretcher into your truck. cover the loaded items with packing blankets and load the rails, aprons and hardware box ball track etc...
When unloading into your room, keep the frame components together, keep the legs and center stretcher together, keep the rails and aprons together and lean the slates vertical against any solid wall one against the other in a single stack is fine.
Jay Spielberg
Quality done right the first time!
You forgot the most important part, cut the seam between the slates with a razor blade and slide them apart in case they are pinned. My late GCI was pinned, I sure am glad that I didnt crack one of my slates trying to lift the slate straight up. I also kept my frame assembled and just removed the legs when I moved it. I'm not sure when/if Brunswick stopped pinning the slates.
I don't know and seem to recall only the 1 and early 2s were pinned?
I got to agree.. it was just across town no big deal but 5 hours don’t be cheap. Rent a proper moving van and save yourself some worry.